If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

New Jersey Knife Law

ADVERTISEMENT

I figures i would post this for fellow citizens of Jersey (this is a copy/paste)

New Jersey - Code of Criminal Justice

- 2C:39-3 Prohibited Weapons and Devices...

e. Certain weapons. Any person who knowingly has in his
possession any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger,
dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sandclub,
slingshot, cestus or similar leather band studded with
metal filings or razor blades imbedded in wood, ballistic
knife, without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty
of a crime of the fourth degree.

- 2C:39-1 h. "Gravity knife" means any knife which has a
blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof
by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal
force... p. "Switchblade knife" means any knife or similar
device which has blade which opens automatically by hand
pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in
the handle of the knife... u. "Ballistic knife" means any
weapon or other device capable of lethal use and which can
propel a knife blade.

- 2C:39-4. Possession of weapons for unlawful purposes...
d. Other weapons. Any person who has in his possession any
weapon, except a firearm, with a purpose to use it
unlawfully against the person or property of another is
guilty of a crime of the third degree.

- 2C:39-5. Unlawful Possession of Weapons... d. Other weapons.
Any person who knowingly has in his possession any other
weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for
such lawful uses as it may have is guilty of a crime of
the fourth degree.
- - e. Firearms or other weapons in educational institutions...
(2)Any person who knowingly possesses any weapon enumerated
in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection r. of N.J.S.2C:39-1
or any components which can readily be assembled into a
firearm or other weapon enumerated in subsection r. of
N.J.S.2C:39-1 or any other weapon under circumstances not
manifestly appropriate for such lawful use as it may have,
while in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any
school, college, university or other educational institution
without the written authorization of the governing officer
of the institution is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

- 2C:39-6. f. Nothing in subsections b., c. and d. of N.J.S.2C:39-5
shall be construed to prevent... (2) A person carrying a firearm
or knife in the woods or fields or upon the waters of this State
for the purpose of hunting, target practice or fishing, provided
that the firearm or knife is legal and appropriate for hunting
or fishing purposes in this State and he has in his possession
a valid hunting license, or, with respect to fresh water fishing,
a valid fishing license;

(3) A person transporting any firearm or knife while traveling:
(a) Directly to or from any place for the purpose of hunting or
fishing, provided the person has in his possession a valid
hunting or fishing license; or

- 2C:39-9. d. Weapons. Any person who manufactures, causes to
be manufactured, transports, ships, sells or disposes of
any weapon including gravity knives, switchblade knives,
daggers, dirks, stilettos... is guilty of a crime of the
fourth degree.

- 2C:39-9.1... Any person who sells any hunting, fishing,
combat or survival knife having a blade length of five
inches or more or an overall length of 10 inches or more
to a person under 18 years of age commits a crime of the
fourth degree...

New Jersey Case Law:
- "Concealment was not a necessary element of the offense of
carrying a dangerous knife." (1973)
- "Concealment of weapon at time of incident constituted
important factor of offense of possession of dangerous
knife." (1971)

Seems the gray area is "explainable lawfull purpose".. I suppose one could make a number of arguments there. (self-defense,utility,nail cleaner,box opener etcc..). Is there any mention of a size or blade length anywhere? Great post btw... I live here, so I can say it- NJ is a big pain in the butt state.

Seems the gray area is "explainable lawfull purpose".. I suppose one could make a number of arguments there. (self-defense,utility,nail cleaner,box opener etcc..). Is there any mention of a size or blade length anywhere? Great post btw... I live here, so I can say it- NJ is a big pain in the butt state.

What i have gathered in terms of size is the blade has to be less than 5" and the overall length has to be less than 10". the largest blade i would ever try to carry on my person would be the esee rc-4 and that im sure would get me in trouble even though its of leagal length. according to the law i cant leagally carry any assisted opener, my junglas in the woods or even my rc 6 (without a purpose of hunting and or fishing and without a permit for what i am doing). leagally i cant go into the woods to just have fun with my blades. what a joke

Seems the gray area is "explainable lawfull purpose".. I suppose one could make a number of arguments there. (self-defense,utility,nail cleaner,box opener etcc..). Is there any mention of a size or blade length anywhere? Great post btw... I live here, so I can say it- NJ is a big pain in the butt state.

One argument you cannot make is self-defense because that's admiting you carry it as a weapon. You can claim you use it on the job.

The only blade length restriction that I know of is what's noted in the original post: 5" blade or 10" overall cannot be sold to an under-18-year-old.

I moved here from NYC in 1997. I have never had a problem or question here, while New York has gone from reasonable to impossible.

Of course, New Hampshire just repealed all its knife laws, and forbid local jurisdictions from establishing any. That is the Gold Standard we should look for in weapons laws: none.

I'm 17, can I legally posses a knife with a blade length of more than 5" or an overall length of 10"? It seems to be legal, but I know I would have any knife taken away just for being a minor, especially a knife that is large. Literally every person I've talked to in my area follows the "four finger rule". That's ridiculous because everyone has differently sized fingers and it has NO legal backing. I can't wait to leave this state.

I'm 17, can I legally posses a knife with a blade length of more than 5" or an overall length of 10"? It seems to be legal, but I know I would have any knife taken away just for being a minor, especially a knife that is large. Literally every person I've talked to in my area follows the "four finger rule". That's ridiculous because everyone has differently sized fingers and it has NO legal backing. I can't wait to leave this state.

I am sure that you can legally possess such a knife in your home, if someone will sell it to you. In anti-weapon, anti-self-defense states like Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, many knife dealers will not sell to anyone under the age of 18. I suppose you could do an Internet order, but what if the UPS or FedEx package arrives with an "adult signature (over 18) only" stipulation? That "four finger" rule is a crock of B.S. that has no legal standing; you are certainly correct about that. For someone under 18, a small locking folder such as a SAK would make a lot of sense. Under no circumstances should you carry it to your school or to any school-sponsored events.

What is a dagger? Do they define the term "dagger" in the law? If not, then why can't any knife or any knife-like object (like a pointy rock) be considered a dagger? Therefore anyone carrying a Swiss Army folding knife, a kitchen knife, or any knife could be arrested for a "crime of the fourth degree." God forbid some grandmother guys a set of knives at WallyWorld or BigMart and then tries to drive home with them. She's goin' to do hard time!

What is a "dirk"? I will tell you. I dirk is a Scottish knife worn here in the states by people who wish to celebrate their heritage. What does the state of NJ have against our race (the Scots)? I DARE the NJ police to arrest me for wearing a dirk. Any law that singles out a certain race is highly illegal. If they want to challenge that in court, be my guest. Since no one has the guts to enforce discriminating laws against white people, I don't think it will be a problem for me. However, laws like this should not be on the books because next the state might pass laws against black people, jewish people, or other minorities.

What the heck is a "cestus"? I don't think those have been seen since the time of the Roman Empire. Just how many people in NJ are being killed by marauding gladiators? I thought Sparticus was dead, but maybe he's on the road with Elvis. Just how much of a panic was needed in NJ to pass such a silly law?

Here in WV we have a 3.5" limit on knives, fixed or folding, except if hunting or some other outdoor activity. So I technically can't carry my Endura around, but they have no problem letting me carry around pistols (with ccw permit.) Silly.

Here in WV we have a 3.5" limit on knives, fixed or folding, except if hunting or some other outdoor activity. So I technically can't carry my Endura around, but they have no problem letting me carry around pistols (with ccw permit.) Silly.

Most steak knives (I think almost all) have a blade over 3.5". What if granny goes to WallyWorld, buys a set, and tries to go home with them? If she gets stopped, she'll be arrested and sent to jail. Let a few murderers and rapists out on the streets to make room for granny. It wouldn't surprise me since they did put Martha Stewart in jail. We all know that Martha was a menace.

I have never had any problems here but I dont wave it around like a jackass and use it as a tool in and out of work . I also live in a rural area so it's not uncommon to see pocket clips around everyday !
Iv always went by the 5" blade rule !

Please keep the discussion on knife laws, not on wild hypothetical scenarios. Martha Stewart was not charged with carrying a steak knife. Granny is not in prison.

You forgot to mention the cestus. Just how many people in NJ are being hurt or killed each year by cestus? I haven't done the research, but I would guess that (in round numbers) it is approximately 0 people per year. Zero is a pretty round number, after all, and I also believe that it is accurate. So why are people in NJ so afraid of the cestus? This IS on topic because their fears about the dreaded dagger or dirk (mentioned in the same law) are from the realms of fantasy as well, not real life. To my knowlege, NJ law does not define the dagger. The English language defines a dagger as a knife. Specifically we could say that a dagger is a knife with a point. Since a Swiss Army knife has a "spear blade" with point, and since steak knives have a point, they could both be considered daggers. Therefore a 90 year old grandmother could be arrested on her way home from buying a kitchen knife at WallyBigMart. That is NOT wild speculation on my part. If anything is wild, silly, or ridiculous it is the NJ law which potentially makes any NJ citizen or any visitor to their state a "criminal" though they do nothing morally wrong. Such laws must go. Cheers. Doug

Laws are not defined in terms of a pocket dictionary, but in terms of older laws, from which they take their subject matter. Laws copy laws, passing on previous elements and adding the new ones that inspired the new or updated laws.

Calling for their abrogation because some elements are outdated is like calling for the elimination of English because "whom" is rarely used, and then, often incorrectly.

I talked to a cop a little while ago, asking him the legal limit for folding knives. he said that the blade length legal limit is 4 inches. However, he also included that the smaller the blade, the better. Of course, if one is an EMS or Firefighter, then its more explainable/ acceptable.

Perhaps vr6glx96 is interested in having the unconstitutional NJ laws thrown out, too.

A few years ago, one of my friends wanted to start carrying a fixed blade, but didn't know what was legal. He asked a bunch of friends, but wasn't satisfied with any of their answers. Nobody seemed to know. A few people mentioned a "four finger rule" which was no where in NH law. New Hampshire Bike Week was not long after that. There is always all kinds of cops at Bike Week, and he started asking them what kind of knife was legal. I found it interesting, so I listened in. The police officers all gave him an authoritative - sounding answer, but none of them matched. Even the cops didn't know what kind of knife was illegal or legal.

You would think if the undefined "dagger" laws were cut and dry that at least the police officers would be able to know what they mean. If the professionals don't understand the vague knife laws, then what chance does an ordinary citizen have? It would be much better to have defined knife laws or no knife laws at all. As it is "dagger" can be stretched to mean any knife (and possibly ice picks, screwdrivers, and other objects). Since every citizen has these, the law potentially makes every citizen a criminal. Hence, the police have the power to arrest anyone, anywhere, for no reason. Such laws are incompatible with basic human rights and are void.